CLICK HERE if you are having trouble viewing these photos on a mobile device
Calistoga’s Francis House was built before the inventions of the softball, ball point pen and the revolving door. Think about that. In its 133 years, the French Second Empire stone building has served as a hospital, private residence and, for several decades after it was abandoned in 1965, a reliable make-out spot for Napa Valley teenagers.
Today, it’s a five-room luxury inn with impeccable style and deep-pocketed guests. San Francisco real estate developer Richard Dwyer and his wife Dina, an interior designer, discovered the property in 2015 and spent the next three and half years carefully restoring it to architectural glory, original tufa stone walls and all.
Because it has only five rooms, a stay at The Francis House is intimate, like you’re accompanying a friend who knows the Dwyers. Richard and Dina are gracious, gregarious hosts, and provide personalized service, whether you need a glass of wine, a Netflix recommendation or reservation to one of Calistoga’s nearby restaurants. The Francis House is just two blocks from Main Street.
Each morning, the kitchen staff prepares a tasty complimentary breakfast — on our visit, whole wheat pizza with an egg and seasonal greens — served in the sculpture garden. Be sure to check out the infrared sauna and salt room, located in the rear of the building.
ROOMS: About 200 square feet each, with minimalist, contemporary French design that shows off those stunning stone walls. My upstairs, southern-facing room featured high ceilings, a massive gilded, Parisian full-length mirror and a bay window overlooking the outdoor heated pool.
Antiques were beautiful but not entirely functional: Most adults won’t fit at the tiny French Boulle marquetry escritoire, or writing desk; and the miniature pub tables on either end of the bed couldn’t hold the Kindle, eyeglasses, iPhone and water bottle I usually put on a nightstand.
ZZZZs: Our Casper king bed with crisp sheets was certainly satisfactory, and the custom leather headboard was nice to lean against. But at this level of luxury, Caspar was a bit unexpected.
SPLASHES: The bathroom is opulent, with a top-of-the-line heated toilet, the Toto NeoRest, offering an array of intelligent functions, from UV light to oscillating and pulsing washes. The tile floor was also heated, and the brass touches, including the shower’s antique rain head, were gorgeous.
DETAILS: Adults only. Rooms start at $500 per night. 1403 Myrtle St., Calistoga; https://thefrancishouse.com